“Nigeria More Expensive to Live in than Kenya” – Atiku slams Tinubu’s Fuel Price Comparison

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu over his recent claim that Nigerians should be grateful because fuel prices in Nigeria are lower than in Kenya and other African countries.

Atiku described the President’s comparison as “shallow,” misleading, and a distortion of the harsh economic realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.

President Tinubu had remarked during a visit to Bayelsa State on Friday, where he acknowledged the hardship caused by rising fuel costs but urged citizens to be thankful, noting that petrol is more expensive in Kenya and other nations.

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Reacting strongly, Atiku argued that comparing only fuel pump prices without considering purchasing power, income levels, and the overall cost of living is unrealistic and unfair to Nigerians.

“Yes, petrol prices in Nigeria may appear lower than in countries like Kenya or South Africa. But this comparison collapses instantly when placed against the backdrop of economic realities,” Atiku said.

He added: “Nigeria today is more expensive to live in than Kenya, with the average cost of living significantly higher, despite lower fuel prices.”

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Atiku highlighted the wide gap in earning power between the two countries: “More alarming is the collapse in earning power. Kenya’s GDP per capita is nearly double that of Nigeria, and a minimum wage earner in Nairobi takes home the equivalent of about N170,000, more than twice Nigeria’s N70,000.”

Current fuel prices stand at approximately N1,290 – N1,350 per litre in Nigeria, compared to over N1,800 per litre in Kenya.

However, Atiku insisted that Nigerians “do not live on petrol; they live on income,” and the lower minimum wage, combined with high inflation, has made daily survival far more difficult in Nigeria.

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The former Vice President’s statement has reignited national debate on the impact of fuel subsidy removal, rising inflation, and the declining purchasing power of the average Nigerian since the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms began in May 2023.